ABSTRACT
Urinary brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),an ubiquitous neurotrophin,was found to rise in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).We hypothesized that the urinary level of BDNF could be a potential biomarker for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with BPH.Totally,76 patients with BPH-caused LUTS and 32 male control subjects without BPH were enrolled.International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was applied to assess the symptom severity of LUTS.Urodynamic tests were performed for the diagnosis of underlying detrusor overactivity (DO) in the patients with BPH.Urine samples were collected from all subjects.Urinary BDNF levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and normalized by urinary creatinine (Cr) levels.Seventy-six BPH patients were divided into moderate LUTS group (n=51,7＜IPSS ≤ 20) and severe LUTS group (n=25,IPSS＞20) according to the IPSS.Of the 76 BPH patients,DO was present in 34 (44.7％)according to the urodynamic test.The urinary BDNF/Cr levels were significantly higher in BPH patients with moderate LUTS (8.29±3.635,P＜0.0001) and severe LUTS (11.8±6.44,P＜0.0001) than normal controls (1.71±0.555).Patients with severe LUTS tended to have higher urinary BDNF/Cr levels than patients with moderate LUTS (11.8±6.44 vs.8.29±3.635,P=0.000).The conditions of BPH with LUTS correlated with elevated urinary BDNF levels,and urinary BDNF levels were even higher in BPH-DO patients.The results of this study have provided evidence to suggest that urinary BDNF level test could evaluate the severity of LUTS in BPH patients,and BDNF level can be used as a biornarker for the diagnosis of DO in BPH patients.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the impact and mechanism of electro-acupuncture (EA) on olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation of spinal cord injury (SCI) axonal regeneration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the experiment, 72 adult Sprague Dawley male rats weighted (220±20) g underwent contusion and transection method to cause the T9 model of spinal cord injury, were randomly divided into four groups involving model group, EA group,OECs group,and EA+OECs group. 5% fluorescein gold (FG) solution of 0.5 µl was injected into rats' spinal cord at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after SCI, a series of tests were performed including fluorescein gold(FG) retrograde tagging, BBB scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)The BBB scores level among four groups had no differences from the 1st day to the 1st week after the SCI (P>0.05). From the 3rd week after the SCI, the BBB scores level in EA+ OECs group were obviously higher than that of other groups (P<0.05). (2)The result of the fluorescein gold (FG) retrograde tagging showed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment FG positive nerve fibers were observed in SCI region. In EA+OECs group the number of FG positive nerve fibers was more than other three groups, and the fibers were more regularly arranged than other three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination of electro-acupuncture and OECs transplantation can recover the pathway of nerve conduction and promote nerve fibers regeneration and hind limb function recovery for SCI rat, and can guide the trend of the axonal regeneration.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Axons , Physiology , Cell Transplantation , Combined Modality Therapy , Electroacupuncture , Nerve Regeneration , Olfactory Nerve , Transplantation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Spinal Cord Injuries , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore a minimally invasive,reliable,and efficient method for endotracheal intubation to instill lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for preparation of acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.MethodsA total of 80 BALB/C mice was randomly selected into LPS group ( n =40) and control group (Normal saline,NS; n =40).After a successfully endotracheal intubation,each mouse was instilled by LPS (3 mg/kg) in LPS group,and NS ( 1.5 ml/kg) in NS group,respectively.The one-time success rate and final success rate of the endotracheal intubation,and survival rate were recorded.After 24 hours,the total number of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of left lung was counted with light microscope.The cells were classified and counted after Wright's stain.Total protein concentration in BALF was assayed with a BCA kit.Wet/dry value was calculated after the lung became dry.Artery blood PaO2 was tested and the oxygenation index was counted.ResultsCompared to NS group,the LPS group had the one-time success rate 92.5％,and the final success rate 100％,survival rate 100％,the total number of cells [ ( 10.82±3.51) ×105/mlvs (0.72±0.52)×105/ml.t =-6.294 P ＜0 01]the rate of polymorphonulear leukocytes in total cells [ (93.93 ± 1.77) ％ vs (2.2 ± 0.91 ) ％,t =- 105.565,P ＜ 0.01 ],the rate of mononuclear leukocytes in total cells[ (6.07 ± 1.77)％ vs (97.8 ±0.91 )％,t =- 105.565,P ＜0.01 ],total protein concentration[ (0.49 ± 0.13 ) mg/ml vs (0.29 ± 0.11 ) mg/ml,t =- 2.823,P ＜ 0.05 ],W/D ratio(4.60 ±0.18 vs 4.16 ±0.25,t =-4.793,P ＜0.01 ),PaO2[ (68.57 -±7.23)％ vs(87.00 ±6.33 )％,t =4.571,P ＜ 0.01 ],and oxygenation index [ (326.53± 34.43 )mmHg vs (414.29 ± 30.16)mmHg,t =4.571,P ＜0.01 ].ConclusionsImproved method for endotracheal intubation has high success rate and minimal injury,and instillation of LPS (3 mg/kg)can induce mice ALI successfully.
ABSTRACT
Fournier's gangrene (FG) is an extremely aggressive and rapidly progressive polymicrobial soft tissue infection of the perineum, anal area or genitalial regions with a high mortality rate. The objectives of this study were to share our experience with the management of this serious infectious disease over the last 15 years. This retrospective study examined 24 patients diagnosed as having FG who were admitted to our hospital between March 1996 and December 2011. The gender, age, etiology, predisposing factors, laboratory findings, treatment modality, hospitalization time and spread of gangrene of the subjects were all recorded and analyzed. The results showed that the mean age of the patients was 48.33 years, the male-to-female ratio was 5:1 and the mortality rate was 20.8% (5/24). The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus in 10 patients (41.6%), followed by alcohol abuse, obesity, neoplasms and immunosuppression. The most common etiology was peri-anal and peri-rectal abscesses (45.8%), followed by lesions of urogenital origin (33.3%) and cutaneous (8.3%) origin. No local pathologies could be identified in 3 (12.5%) patients. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli (62.5%), followed by Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The median admission Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score for survivors was 5.63±1.89 against 13.6±3.64 for non-survivors which was designed for predicting the disease severity in the series. Early diagnosis and immediate extensive surgical debridement were significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive modalities for wound coverage were useful in that they repaired the tissue defect and improved the quality of life. We are led to conclude that Fournier's gangrene is a severe condition with a high mortality. The Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score at admission serves as a good predictor for the disease severity. Early diagnosis, surgical debridement and aggressive fluid therapy are significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive surgery modalities for wound coverage are useful to correct the tissue defect and improve the quality of life.
ABSTRACT
In the present study, we investigated the roles of TGF-β signaling pathway in a rat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) model treated with cetrorelix. TGF-β1 and c-Myc expression were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blotting in the proximal and distal region of ventral prostatic lobes, respectively. We observed that treatment with cetrorelix led to a significant reduction of ventral prostate weight in a dose-dependent manner. In the proximal region, after cetrorelix treatment, the expression of TGF-β1 was dramatically increased (P<0.05), while the expression of c-Myc was significantly decreased (P<0.05). In comparison with the control group, the cetrorelix groups had more TUNEL-positive cells. Our findings strongly suggest that the TGF-β signaling pathway may be one of the major causes responsible for prostate volume reduction in BPH rats after cetrorelix treatment.
ABSTRACT
In the present study, we investigated the roles of TGF-β signaling pathway in a rat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) model treated with cetrorelix. TGF-β1 and c-Myc expression were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blotting in the proximal and distal region of ventral prostatic lobes, respectively. We observed that treatment with cetrorelix led to a significant reduction of ventral prostate weight in a dose-dependent manner. In the proximal region, after cetrorelix treatment, the expression of TGF-β1 was dramatically increased (P<0.05), while the expression of c-Myc was significantly decreased (P<0.05). In comparison with the control group, the cetrorelix groups had more TUNEL-positive cells. Our findings strongly suggest that the TGF-β signaling pathway may be one of the major causes responsible for prostate volume reduction in BPH rats after cetrorelix treatment.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Atrophy , Pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone , Hormone Antagonists , Organ Size , Prostatic Hyperplasia , Pathology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc , Metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , MetabolismABSTRACT
Fournier's gangrene (FG) is an extremely aggressive and rapidly progressive polymicrobial soft tissue infection of the perineum, anal area or genitalial regions with a high mortality rate. The objectives of this study were to share our experience with the management of this serious infectious disease over the last 15 years. This retrospective study examined 24 patients diagnosed as having FG who were admitted to our hospital between March 1996 and December 2011. The gender, age, etiology, predisposing factors, laboratory findings, treatment modality, hospitalization time and spread of gangrene of the subjects were all recorded and analyzed. The results showed that the mean age of the patients was 48.33 years, the male-to-female ratio was 5:1 and the mortality rate was 20.8% (5/24). The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus in 10 patients (41.6%), followed by alcohol abuse, obesity, neoplasms and immunosuppression. The most common etiology was peri-anal and peri-rectal abscesses (45.8%), followed by lesions of urogenital origin (33.3%) and cutaneous (8.3%) origin. No local pathologies could be identified in 3 (12.5%) patients. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli (62.5%), followed by Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The median admission Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score for survivors was 5.63±1.89 against 13.6±3.64 for non-survivors which was designed for predicting the disease severity in the series. Early diagnosis and immediate extensive surgical debridement were significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive modalities for wound coverage were useful in that they repaired the tissue defect and improved the quality of life. We are led to conclude that Fournier's gangrene is a severe condition with a high mortality. The Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score at admission serves as a good predictor for the disease severity. Early diagnosis, surgical debridement and aggressive fluid therapy are significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive surgery modalities for wound coverage are useful to correct the tissue defect and improve the quality of life.